Latest Area News Headlines

WORTHINGTON – During a presentation of the first Property Assessed Clean Energy or PACE check in the southwest Minnesota 18-county Rural Minnesota Energy Board Area, Slayton Mayor Miron Carney opened remarks by stating his parents were of the hippy generation. He said he grew up hearing about how solar and natural power and energy efficiency were going to clean up our planet and turn lives around.

Now we’re starting to see it, he said, and thanked Sen. Al Franken for being such a strong supporter of PACE.

In a the back meeting room of the Blue Line Café, where a check for...

WORTHINGTON – The Nobles County Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously opposed a motion that had been tabled from their last meeting limiting the Lao Buddhist Temple to four 3.2 beer permits per year. The motion was tabled two weeks ago after it was decided more information should be gathered as to why the county planning and zoning committee had limited the temple to three permits per year in 2008, and how many 3.2 beer permits a year could be given out to one entity.

Commissioner Robert Demuth said he sat in on the decision in 2008, and that three was an arbitrary number, with...

MINNESOTA - In honor and remembrance of Police Officer Scott Patrick, Governor Mark Dayton has ordered all United States flags and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset, on Wednesday, August 6, 2014.

Officer Patrick was 47 years old, a 19-year veteran of the Mendota Heights Police Department and the department’s senior officer.

Officer Patrick died on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, after being shot in the line of duty. At the direction of the Governor, Minnesota flies its flags at half-staff...

KENNETH – A Rushmore woman was killed Monday afternoon when her vehicle rear-ended a dump truck south of Kenneth, according to information released by Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge.

Ashley Von Holtum, age 26, was northbound on County Road 3 a half-mile north of County Road 8 in a Chevrolet S-10 Crew Cab at approximately 1:50 p.m. There was an unmanned, controlled burn being conducted approximately ½ mile north. The wind had picked up and shifted, causing smoke to cross over the roadway. Von Holtum rear-ended a gravel side dump truck, which is owned by Russell Knutson, Magnolia...

WORTHINGTON – A Worthington man with an extensive criminal history is scheduled to make a court appearance Tuesday on a new set of charges that include felony-level robbery and assault. Sonny Syhavong, age 24, is charges with simple robbery, aiding and abetting first- and second-degree aggravated robbery, aiding and abetting second and third degree assault and theft.

The complaint states law enforcement officers received a report of an assault on July 4 and met the victim at the hospital. He could not remember much other than being hit from behind. When he came to, he said, his cell...

WORTHINGTON – In front of family and co-workers, Nate Grimmius on Friday was sworn in as a sergeant on the Worthington Police Department after serving 10 years on the force. The brief ceremony was introduced by Interim Police Chief Kevin Flynn.

“It’s not often that we get a chance to put stripes on somebody, so it’s something that we need to do in an official manner,” Flynn said. “It’s something that’s important to us. The significant is he is a boss and he’s demonstrated his ability to lead and we want to recognize him for that.”

SLAYTON – Residents of Slayton are asked to boil water before using it Tuesday, Aug. 5 through Monday, Aug. 11, due to low water pressure.

The City of Slayton will be performing work on Juniper Avenue that includes installing multiple new water main valves. The installation of these valves will require a city-wide shut down of the water system Tuesday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. daily. Water system pressure will have dropped to a point that harmful bacteria could enter the water system.

This will result in a boil water order that will take effect each day when...

JBS has teamed up with MN West to offer a one-year program in Industrial Technology and is offering up to 135,000 in scholarships and a guaranteed job after the program as a maintenance technician to those who qualify! Just imagine, getting your education for free, and one short year later having a full-time career with the region’s largest employer as a Maintenance Technician and earning an average of 65,000/year!

Opportunities like this don’t come around often! Applications are available through August 8th at MN West (or see below, click to enlarge).

LUVERNE — A Lake Park, Iowa, man was arrested Monday night after allegedly attempting to steal more than $1,200 worth of barbed wire rolls from the Bomgaars Store in Luverne. Kirk Michael Kane, 50, is facing one felony count of theft and one second-degree assault. He also faces one count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and a misdemeanor charge of fleeing a peace officer by means other than a motor vehicle.

According to the criminal complaint, The Rock County Sheriff’s Office received a report Monday night of an individual stealing items from the fenced-in area at...

If you have seen this man, call police immediately. This man is suspect in the killing of a Mn Police officer today in the Twin Cities. CALL AUTHORITIES IMMEDIATELY IF SEEN! A reward for his arrest is currently being offered, and tips should be directed to 1-800-222-TIPS.